Unused tools?

[babomb]

As for templates...I LOVE templates as a DM, except for the summon monster spells. I'm not sure if this changed for 3.5, since I'm not going to bow before the glaringly obvious money grab, but they seemed very happy to give you boatloads of templated monsters and not help out with it. Thus, I keep a handy-dandy guide of pre-altered celestial and fiending animals by my DM screen. Never used them as a player, since none of my group could agree what the ECL for "insectile" should be. BTW, if we just missed seeing it on the template entry, I'm gonna be an unhappy player.

I'm with you on this. As a DM, I typically require stats for summoned monsters to be prepared in advance. As a player, I've generally avoided summon spells, because I didn't feel like going to the trouble of preparing the stats in advance.

Metamagic. I've never used it and have rarely seen it used. I usually play wizards over sorcerors, but I'd consider metamagic more strongly for a sorceror. Next time I DM, I'll probably use the rule that the feat gives you one free use per day, and give all casters heighten spell for free.

Counter-spelling. It's happened exactly once in my experience.

Prestige classes. I rarely use them, but some min-maxers I've gamed with use them a lot.

Alternative attacks. I've never used or seen used a sunder or a bluff to feint. I rarely have used/seen disarm or trip attempts. Grappling, on the other hand, has happened quite a bit.

Aid another. I've used it a few times, but nobody I've played with has.

Initiative actions. They've happened only rarely in my games.

NPC Stats. I print out statblocks from an NPC generator instead. If I haven't had the foresight to do so, I make something up or use stats from an old NPC and bump the BAB up a little (or add a couple of spells for casters).

 

[Snotlord]

I have never used counterspelling in my games. That's it.

Everything else have mentioned here have been used. I especially thing the NPC stats are great. Metamagic are moderately used, but out epic campaign use empowered and quickened spells routinely. Empower Spell and Extend Spell are frequently used even at lower levels.

Generic PrC's are not very popular, but region specific ones from the FR (especially Costa's Cormyr article from Dragon) have seen some use. I have found that Eldricth Knight/Mystic Theurge fits many of my NPCs perfectly. I like 'em.

 

[EricNoah]

I have never used counterspelling in my games. That's it.

Oh, good one -- same here. And I've also never used (or seen used) the tactic of readying an action to disrupt enemy spellcasting. I'm not sure why. I should make up some archer NPCs whose only job it is is to wait for spellcasters and then shoot them.

I might experiment with "on the fly" counterspelling -- let PCs do counterspell attempts out of turn without readying an action.

 

[diaglo]

i've never used anything in the 2000ed or 3.11ed for workgroups core books for my game.

i've got all i need in the 3 booklets that came in my boxed set.

 

[Klaus]

Oh, good one -- same here. And I've also never used (or seen used) the tactic of readying an action to disrupt enemy spellcasting. I'm not sure why. I should make up some archer NPCs whose only job it is is to wait for spellcasters and then shoot them.

I might experiment with "on the fly" counterspelling -- let PCs do counterspell attempts out of turn without readying an action.

Counterspelling is indeed something far too specific (need same/opposite spell, must ready an action...)

Improved Counterspell eased things a bit (need only be of same school), but is still not enough.

I once toyed with the idea of making a Ftr/Wiz witch-hunter, centered around thewhole counterspelling thing. Lots of Dispel Magic, including a low-level Lesser Dispel Magic.

 

[Varianor Abroad]

Don't use random magic item tables anymore, or the artifacts in the back, or the Staffs section of magic items at all it seems.

I keep forgetting the encumbrance rules. I make my players figure it out, but then I never go back and check, especially when they are using skills. Fortunately, they usually remember. Counterspelling is also something that I rarely see at all.

The most unused section of my books? Stuff for over 15th level, especially 7th, 8th & 9th level spells. Just haven't had a game get to that point.

Oh, and the Run feat. I've just never, ever seen anyone take that.

 

[der_kluge]

Polearms
Never seen one used.

Languages. Rarely ever used. In the last campaign I ran, there was a minotaur in the group, and months into the campaign, everyone wondered what kind of language the minotaur spoke. He didn't take any other languages, and as a barbarian, had no slots for such a thing. In the end, we decided that everyone in the party was fluent in minotaur!

Craft Skills
never seen anyone take those.

It took us a while to warm up to metamagic.

 

[KB9JMQ]

Languages. Rarely ever used. In the last campaign I ran, there was a minotaur in the group, and months into the campaign, everyone wondered what kind of language the minotaur spoke. He didn't take any other languages, and as a barbarian, had no slots for such a thing. In the end, we decided that everyone in the party was fluent in minotaur!

That makes my day.

In the group I play in there are 4 of us who must use the translation skills of another party member to even talk to each other. (Kind of comedic sometimes)

 

[drnuncheon]

Counterspelling is indeed something far too specific (need same/opposite spell, must ready an action...)

Yep. Most players hate to waste an action, and readying to counterspell has too big a risk of that happening - the guy might cast a spell you don't have. You might blow your spell identification roll. He might cast a spell that you don't want to waste one of your own spells to counter. He might be readying to counter you.

The version from AU (using the Brandish Magical Might feat) is slightly more palatable - at least it doesn't cost you spell slots - but shares most of the problems.

J

 

[Christopher Lambert]

I never counterspell. It's much more efficient to ready an action to drop a direct-damage spell on them. That way, you damage them, even if they pull off their Concentration check.

My players never do this, however, even after having it used against them! *Shrugs*

Most metamagic doesn't get used. Silent gets used a lot (Dimension Door), same with Heighten Spell, and occasionally an Empowered Lightning Bolt gets used instead of Cone of Cold. The rods are broken IMO... I'd rather see a balanced solution to the problem. (The Sudden Metamagic feats are broken for the same reason as the rods.)